I love America and the freedom we have here.
Today at lunch as my friend prayed over our food I was thinking about how rare it is to see people praying in places for their food, or whatever they are praying for.
I began to think of the places where it is illegal to pray, worship, read your Bible or even talk about God in public, and how blessed I am to live in a country where I don't even have to think twice about doing any of that!
Then I got to thinking how many times I don't do something as simple as bless my food, an easy chance to talk with my savior, and I simply just don't do it! That freedom is a privilege, and I take it for granted day after day. And when I do pray at meals, it's just at dinner or whenever someone else takes the initiative.
I can't believe I don't take the opportunity more often!
and yeah i really don't feel like writing. i hate writing. goodbye.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Thursday, January 9, 2014
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10: 25-37 - Jesus Tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan
I love this story, and it seems like every time I read it I learn something new. Tonight, my heart was hurting so deeply for someone I care about more than myself. I was sitting in bed, crying, and by the grace of God I thought to myself, "turn to scripture". Usually, I just cry myself to sleep, curse life for sucking so bad, and eventually shrug it off. But lately, I have been trying to make an effort to talk to God more, and talk about God more. And I've been asking him to give me the desire to serve him, because let's be honest, sitting down and reading a book (yes, even the Bible unfortunately) just doesn't sound as appealing as sleeping in, or sitting on the couch watching my show, being lazy. And praying usually turns into a "try not to fall asleep" time. It's sad, but it's true. That's how I have been, or had been. I have really been working on it, and I have seen changes. Like tonight, when I got the idea to read my Bible when I was sad, instead of trying to deal with it myself. Or when I see someone hurt, or trying to achieve something, and instead of saying to myself, "I hope they are okay" or, "I hope they reach their goal" I will pray to God, the author of life, the one who can actually do something about the situation. It's all by the grace of God. My dumb little selfish brain couldn't have thought of that on my own, it's all God.
So tonight I read Luke 10, and it of course it was great. I've been attempting to really read and study the verses and chapters that I read, instead of just breezing through. I've been trying to apply the passages to my life, because if I just read it and leave it at that, what was the point?
What I learned tonight from the passage above is that while the man, a Jew, was laying naked and half dead on the side of a road, two people passed him, saw him, and not only did nothing, but took the effort to get as far away as possible. The two people were a Levite and a priest, both people involved with religion (you know, that label people claim that makes them "good"). Then a Samaritan comes along, an enemy of the Jewish people, and sees the man on the road and decides to help. Not only did he get him to safety, he went above and beyond to make sure this man was treated right. He dressed his wounds, walked to the inn while the man rode his donkey, paid for a few nights stay for the man, and promised to pay for whatever other expenses the man makes.
To see the priest and Levite walk by one of their own, and ignore a man in need, is sad. To see the Samaritan, who is supposedly an enemy, look at him and realize the man is no worse than he is, that he is just another human being who is in need of help, to put all the differences behind and find the similarities, is amazing.
It makes me think of how often I have had a "holier than thou" attitude towards others, so much that it blinded me from doing the simplest of things, and helping someone in need. God created us all in his image, we are all equally sinful, dirty…human. I should be viewing everyone with love. How many people have I thought were not as good as me, wether I thought they were dirty (literally), or more sinful, or not as smart, etc. and completely turned away, refused to love them unconditionally as God has loved me.
I need to apply this to my life, to put away the so called differences that don't even matter, and realize the similarities between myself and my peers, and reach out to them. Help them. Love them. Whether it's the homeless man asking for some change, or a coworker complaining about the job, or a sibling who I am fighting with, just anyone, whoever.
Everyone is my neighbor. No matter what color, belief, race, education, paycheck, etc. God calls me to love my neighbor, Jesus defined my neighbor. Now it's my time to be obedient.
I love this story, and it seems like every time I read it I learn something new. Tonight, my heart was hurting so deeply for someone I care about more than myself. I was sitting in bed, crying, and by the grace of God I thought to myself, "turn to scripture". Usually, I just cry myself to sleep, curse life for sucking so bad, and eventually shrug it off. But lately, I have been trying to make an effort to talk to God more, and talk about God more. And I've been asking him to give me the desire to serve him, because let's be honest, sitting down and reading a book (yes, even the Bible unfortunately) just doesn't sound as appealing as sleeping in, or sitting on the couch watching my show, being lazy. And praying usually turns into a "try not to fall asleep" time. It's sad, but it's true. That's how I have been, or had been. I have really been working on it, and I have seen changes. Like tonight, when I got the idea to read my Bible when I was sad, instead of trying to deal with it myself. Or when I see someone hurt, or trying to achieve something, and instead of saying to myself, "I hope they are okay" or, "I hope they reach their goal" I will pray to God, the author of life, the one who can actually do something about the situation. It's all by the grace of God. My dumb little selfish brain couldn't have thought of that on my own, it's all God.
So tonight I read Luke 10, and it of course it was great. I've been attempting to really read and study the verses and chapters that I read, instead of just breezing through. I've been trying to apply the passages to my life, because if I just read it and leave it at that, what was the point?
What I learned tonight from the passage above is that while the man, a Jew, was laying naked and half dead on the side of a road, two people passed him, saw him, and not only did nothing, but took the effort to get as far away as possible. The two people were a Levite and a priest, both people involved with religion (you know, that label people claim that makes them "good"). Then a Samaritan comes along, an enemy of the Jewish people, and sees the man on the road and decides to help. Not only did he get him to safety, he went above and beyond to make sure this man was treated right. He dressed his wounds, walked to the inn while the man rode his donkey, paid for a few nights stay for the man, and promised to pay for whatever other expenses the man makes.
To see the priest and Levite walk by one of their own, and ignore a man in need, is sad. To see the Samaritan, who is supposedly an enemy, look at him and realize the man is no worse than he is, that he is just another human being who is in need of help, to put all the differences behind and find the similarities, is amazing.
It makes me think of how often I have had a "holier than thou" attitude towards others, so much that it blinded me from doing the simplest of things, and helping someone in need. God created us all in his image, we are all equally sinful, dirty…human. I should be viewing everyone with love. How many people have I thought were not as good as me, wether I thought they were dirty (literally), or more sinful, or not as smart, etc. and completely turned away, refused to love them unconditionally as God has loved me.
I need to apply this to my life, to put away the so called differences that don't even matter, and realize the similarities between myself and my peers, and reach out to them. Help them. Love them. Whether it's the homeless man asking for some change, or a coworker complaining about the job, or a sibling who I am fighting with, just anyone, whoever.
Everyone is my neighbor. No matter what color, belief, race, education, paycheck, etc. God calls me to love my neighbor, Jesus defined my neighbor. Now it's my time to be obedient.
Monday, October 21, 2013
All the way or not at all, please.
Something has really been bothering me lately. As I've been reading the book of Mark I've gotten to see how the Pharisees act and how each time they're around Jesus they try and trip him up but each time Jesus answers wisely and calmly.
What else I noticed is that the Pharisees called themselves holy and acted all righteous in the marketplaces but in reality they were cheating on widows and steal their houses (Mark 12:40) and turn around and say a prayer while others are watching.
As sad as it is, this makes me think of people today. They're always worried about equality and tolerance and they say "love the gay people" and "they're cheating on their spouse it's okay love them anyways" but then they turn around and hate on someone's whose overweight, someone who lives out their faith, someone who has a weird voice or who asks too many questions.
They say love the people who are "hated" by Christians when in fact it's the (real) Christians who genuinely love them.
No, I don't promote the act of being gay. I don't promote having sex outside of marriage. I don't promote getting wasted. I think these things are sinful, they go against what God has told us is right. They. Are. Wrong.
Yet, do I hate the people that take part in these things? Heck no. I love people so much. I love hearing their stories, laughing with them, seeing them grow up and mature. Just because they have sins doesn't mean I hate them, because guess what, I am flawed too. As a Christian, I mess up every single day. I may not be gay or or sleep around, but I judge people, I make fun of people, I get mad, I cuss, I have road rage, and none of these sins are worse or less than any other sin. They're all equal.
So here I am annoyed that people think Christians hate everyone who don't live the same as them or believe the same things, when in fact we are called to love everyone, even our enemies with the love that Christ has shown us.
And then I remember that I can't blame them. Because there are "fake Christians" who say they are saved and who say they believe the Bible but really have no clue or care to follow what it says.
So I am puzzled. Why do people claim to be Christians when they have no intentions on living like one? Why bother claiming that title and bringing a bad name to the rest of the Christians who are taking their faith seriously and to, more importantly, Jesus, when they can just live their life without having that title?
It's better to just admit that you're not a Christian than pretend to be one on Sundays.
Just a few thoughts.
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